America 1, Morelia 0: America leads Group A

Alejandro Arguello scored a spectacular first-half goal and keeper Guillermo Ochoa came up big to save a penalty kick in the second half to help America manage a 1-0 victory over the Morelia Monarcas.

The win also gave the Mexico City club and 10-time Mexican league champion the lead in Group A of InterLiga, a tournament that, in its fifth edition, grants two berths to this year’s Copa Libertadores, one of the most prestigious club competitions in the world.

The top two teams per group advance to the InterLiga finals slated for Jan. 12 in Carson, Calif.

Arguello might have scored the game-winning goal, but it was Ochoa who stole the show, even saving his teammate from embarrassment in the process.

Luck seemed to smile down on Morelia in the 55th minute after America defender O(accent)scar Rojas was called for a handball in the box. But Ochoa read Mauricio Romero’s kick perfectly and dove to his right to deny the defender and send the pro-America crowd into a frenzy.

Ochoa finished with nine saves and Player of the Match honors.

Up until that point, the award seemed to be Arguello’s after the 12th minute, when the midfielder collected a ball a good 30 yards out and without hesitation unloaded a shot that bounced its way past Morelia keeper Moises Munoz for the early advantage.

Not all news was good for the Aguilas, however. The team lost second-half sub Federico Insu(accent)a to a left knee injury. The striker was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital for an MRI, team officials said.

Teams traveled to Frisco, where they will resume group play on Sunday. Robertson will host a Group B doubleheader Saturday before the action moves to Carson.